Roxanne’s Recap: The X Factor

speaks onstage at 'The X Factor' panel during day 3 of the FOX portion of the 2012 Summer TCA Tour held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 23, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.

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The X Factor was a real treat last night with the first live show of the season! Also new co-host Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez made their debut! I loved Demi’s new look, and I didn’t care for Britney’s. In general Britney has looked better. Maybe she was nervous…

Last night we saw the top 16 battle for their spot. Tonight the judges pick 12 who are safe from elimination — one from each judge’s team. There’s no public vote on this one. T he rest will have to compete to stay on the show. I’m looking forward to tonight!

Here’s what you missed:
Khloe looked hot wearing a black pencil skirt and a revealing sheer blouse. No bra and you could tell! The world watched waiting for a wardrobe malfunction which I guess happened but I didn’t catch it. What I loved about Khloe is she totally called the judges out. She said exactly what I was thinking. When Cowell slammed Demi Lovato’s song choice for Willie Jones’ (Gretchen Wilson’s “Here for the Party”), Kardashian stumped Cowell by challenging him to name which song he would have chosen for Wilson. Simon couldn’t come up with one! Later, she pushed Lovato into revealing which member of the girl group 1432 was her favorite. By the way why is LYLAS now 1432 because of conflict with Bruno Mars‘ backup band of female sisters of the same name.

Now to the important stuff. The performances. They were a lot of BAD performances like really BAD. I think most of the song choices was the problem, and I blame the judges for that. They had them dancing and looking stupid. As a viewer I honestly just want to see them sing. Some of them got it right though! Kudos to Simon who’s group Emblem 3 nailed their performances!! Britney’s little Beatrice Miller and Carly Rose were my other favorites, but everyone else just sucked!!! Here’s what the judges thought.

Paige Thomas (Young Adults)

“What is Love” by Hadaway

LA Reid: “Very dramatic. I thought you handled yourself f with poise … You look like a star. It feels like stardom. But I’m not so sure about that song choice. Didn’t love it.”

Britney Spears: “You’re outrageous. I love everything about it … I think you’re a true star.”

Simon Cowell: “The whole point of this show is to find an artist who can work in the real world … You’ve just come out here tonight and nailed it.”

Arin Ray (Teens)

“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by the Supremes

Reid: “That was a really creative an inventive song choice,” but the judge wasn’t sure about the vocals.

Demi Lovato: “I couldn’t’ really hear your vocals because the girls were screaming so loud….I felt like it was as little stiff. I want to see you dance better.”

Cowell: “You have that kind of swag. That self confidence. And that’s what you need in a pop star.”

David Correy (Over 25s)

“My Love is Your Love” by Whitney Houston

Spears: “You were amazing.”

Lovato: “You really got the crowd going and it was actually pretty good.”

Cowell: “An interesting song choice. I thought your performance was a bit manic.”

Sister C (Groups)

“Hell on Heels” by Pistol Annies

Reid: “It was good.”

Spears: “You really delivered. You had a great performance. I think you were stunning.”

Lovato: “It kind of let me down after you walked out on stage, because I was expecting a better performance and you felt really stiff.”

Jennel Garcia (Young Adults)

“Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue

Reid: “I was completely surpassed. I did not expect that…. You just convinced me that you could win.”

Spears: “I loved everything about it. It was really amazing.”

Cowell: “With that song you just defined the theme ‘made in America’…. My slight criticism is I think Demi has tried to make you a clone of her….That is complete narcissism.”

Diamond White (Teens)

“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train

Reid: “By the time it got to the end, it felt like it was really your song.”

Lovato: “You’re so adorable, and you have one of the most powerful voices in this competition. I would have liked to see you have a bit more fun … I felt like it was a little reserved.”

Cowell: “You came off as a relevant pop star. There were a few tuning issues within the song … but overall a massive, massive improvement.”

Vino Alan (Over 25s)

“Somebody” By Nickelback

Lovato: “I just have a hard time seeing you as a pop star.”

Cowell: “I really like you. I think you have an incredible voice. I think the song and the arrangement of the song was completely and utterly wrong for you … It made you into some horrible cover singer . I think you’re more of a soul singer than a rock singer.”

Reid: “Good news is I love you guys … the bad news is it sounded like somebody put you in a washr, dumped in bleach, and took all of the soul out of you.”

Lovato: “I was genuinely entertained … I’m a little worried about this group, because they’re so good.”

CeCe Frey (Young Adults)

“Because the Night” by Patti Smith

Reid: “That was very strong … It left a little to be desired vocally but I thought overall it was very strong.”

Cowell: He didn’t mind the vocals weren’t the best, saying “You are someone we need in this competition. “

Tate Stevens (Over 25s)

“Tough” by Craig Morgan

Spears: “I know you get the girls. You get me. I think you’re amazing.”

Lovato: “You don’t need dancers and a band behind you. You stood on your own and you gave me the chills.”

Cowell: “You’re just a good honest man who needs a break. The soul, if I’m being honest with you, wasn’t one of my favorites. I think you are better when you don’t push your vocals too hard.”

Beatrice Miller (Teens)

“I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz

Reid: He noted key ingredients are believability and lovability. “I believe you and I love you,” he said.

Lovato: “There was so much feeling behind your eyes.”

Cowell: “I think the style of music Britney chose for you was actually right … [but] when you were trying to push it we had some real tuning issues.”

Jason Brock (Over 25s)

“Dance Again” by Jennifer Lopez

Spears: “You could have chosen a better song.”

Lovato “I don’t think it was the right song choice … He should have gone with something that had a little more sass.”

Cowell: “I like you, but that was utterly horrendous/”

1432 (Groups)

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift

Reid: “It sounds like you took the greatest song in the world and did the talent show version of it … Your mentor really failed you.”

Spears: “The energy just drew us in.”

Lovato: “You guys have potential … [but] tonight there was only one person that signed, and it didn’t’ click with me tonight. I want to see you guys click. I think you need more practice together.”

Willie Jones (Young Adults)

“Here for the Party” by Gretchen Wilson

Reid: “I can’t tell you I got goose bumps from it, but it was an adequate performance. I think there’s more there. I think you’ll be around.”

Spears: “You are a true star. You have what it takes.”

Cowell: “I thought it was silly … I don’t think you were taking yourself seriously. It didn’t really show off you’re vocal ability… I don’t like what you’re wearing. I think the dancers were inappropriate at that song. It all felt a bit cheap.”

Carly Rose (Teens)

“Something’s Got a Hold on Me” by Etta James (and more recently by Christina Aguilera)

Reid: He found it “amazing,” but “didn’t buy into the fun”

Lovato: “You have one of the best voices in this competition. At your age it can be a blessing and a curse … seeing you up there with other kids, it’s not really believable. I don’t see you having a lot of fun.”

Cowell: Agrees. That didn’t actually make any sense at all … my issue was that you felt uncomfortable with the song … but it would be criminal if you were to leave the competition tomorrow.”

Emblem3

“One Day” by Matisyahu

Reid: “That was unbelievable. I think we are witnessing America’s next pop sensation.”

Spears: “You’re absolutely adorable.”

Lovato: “You boys make me swoon … I can’t look you in the eye when you sing to me, because I’m supposed to be a judge, and not flirting with you while you sing.”

Cowell: “The difference in you over the last three or four weeks is unbelievable … anyone watching this band for the first time, remember this night, because you are seeing a future superstar here.”